Film Room: Panthers run game thrives vs. Jaguars

Film Room: Panthers run game thrives vs. Jaguars

In Thursday’s regular season tune-up against the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Carolina Panthers showed a nice balance of run and pass plays, totaling 33 passes and 29 runs.

Particularly on the first drive, however, the Panthers really featured the run game, as eight of the ten plays were runs. Part of that was easing Cam Newton back, as he was making the preseason debut and only threw two passes in that drive, which ended up being his only game action of the night. Still, the rushing attack helped move the ball down the field and the drive ultimately ended up putting seven points on the board.

Greg Olsen motions to create a bunch look on the left side with Devin Funchess and Russell Shepard. The intent is for the Kalil brothers to both pull left side, but the Jaguars’ big free-agent signing (or at least one of them) Calais Campbell blows that up immediately, running right into Ryan Kalil.

Luckily for Carolina, Newton gets the pitch off to Stewart and Campbell is almost out of the play, while Matt Kalil is still on the loose. Stewart’s footwork, plus Matt getting in between he and Tyler Patmon, allows Stewart to spring forward a few extra yards before Tashaun Gipson finnally brings him down.

Also check out Andrew Norwell taking Malik Jackson out of the picture, knocking him to the ground, with the help of a pileup nearby, effectively taking Jackson out of the play, though he does make an attempt to grab Stewart’s legs, but to no avail.

Panthers are now in a classic “I” formation. Olsen motions to the right side, setting up McCaffrey to run to the weak side. Ed Dickson leads the way by standing up Myles Jack, creating a huge hole for McCaffrey. Credit to Telvin Smith for hustling from the backside to make the stop. Nonetheless, it was a fine six-yard gain on first down.

With the Panthers in a two by two stack set and Derek Anderson in the shotgun, he hands off inside to McCaffrey. Paul Posluszny fires into the hole and is waiting for McCaffrey and ready to bring him down for a minimal gain. Or so he thought. McCaffrey quickly changes direction and gets to the outside. This may have been a short gain, but it was certainly a quick, exciting moment from McCaffrey which allows him to gain a few extra yards that he wouldn’t have had without the change of direction.

Now we’ll get Artis-Payne into the mix here. After an interception by Zack Sanchez set the Panthers up with first and goal from the three, it only took two Artis-Payne runs to hit pay-dirt.

The Panthers are set with two receivers split and on the line of scrimmage, Mose Frazier and tight end Chris Manhertz. Kaelin Clay goes in motion and Eric Wallace is on the wing to the right.

Artis-Payne takes the handoff, cuts back inside, and with the help of Dan France setting the trap block, bursts through the hole and into the end zone. The entire offensive line really did a nice job, overall, but it’s always the pulling lineman on the trap that’s the most important piece to the puzzle. Without France’s block, the touchdown likely doesn’t happen on this play.

Artis-Payne’s second touchdown came early in the fourth quarter. The Panthers roll with trips left, tight end run. Garrett Gilbert in the shotgun with Artis-Payne to his left.

Watch No. 73, Greg Van Roten, execute the key block on the pull. He actually blocks one defender into another. Artis-Payne then performs a little shake and bake and with some help from his friends, pushes his way into the end zone for his second touchdown.

The ensuing two-point conversion would prove to be the winning points for the Panthers.